Wednesday, 26 January 2011 1
National Green Jobs conference – 24 Jan. 2011
N.G. KularatneDirector General, National Institute of Labour Studies
Skills for Green Jobs in Sri Lanka: Prospects and Challenges
Wednesday, 26 January 2011 2
Presentation OutlineIntroduction to green jobs
Industries for creation of green jobs
Countries where green jobs are available
Skills required for green jobs
Situation analysis – prospects & challenges
Who should initiate action to develop skills required for green jobs
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What are green jobs?
Jobs in industries that would:Reduce consumption of energy and raw materials (‘dematerialize economy’)Avoid GHG emissions (‘decarbonize economy’)Protect and restore ecosystemsMinimize waste and pollution (3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)
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Definitions of Green Jobs
In principle, any job that contributes to reducing environmental impacts (through greater efficiency of energy & materials use) can be seen as a green job.
‘Green jobs are decent work created in economic sectors and activities, which reduces their environmental impact, ultimately leading to environmentally, economically and socially sustainable enterprises and economies.’
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Shipbreaking
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Recycling IT waste
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“Shades of Green”Energy Supply / UseLow-sulfur fuels, etc.Carbon sequestrationRenewable energy sourcesGreater energy efficiency
TransportationAlternative-fuel vehiclesMore fuel-efficient vehiclesPublic transportationWalking, biking; shorter distances
ManufacturingPollution control (tailpipe)Clean production (toxics avoidance)Cradle-to-cradle (closed loop)
Materials ManagementRecyclingProduct take-back; remanufacturingDe-materializationGreater durability, repairability
Source: Renner, Sweeney and Kubit, Green Jobs: Towards Sustainable Work in a Low-Carbon World
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New Job Creation
Renewable energy sector; energy performance service companies; mobility services
Elimination Mining; packaging (materials discouraged or banned)Net employment effects ?
SubstitutionShifting from fossil fuels to renewables, automobiles to mass transport, waste disposal to recycling, primary metals production to secondary production
TransformationExisting jobs greened along with changed workplace practices and methods.Supply-chain effects (steel for wind turbines)
‘Radiating Out’ Greening core areas (energy, transport) has potential to “radiate” across large sections of the economy
Green Jobs Creation - Possible Industries
Source: Renner, Sweeney and Kubit, Green Jobs: Towards Sustainable Work in a Low-Carbon World
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Where are Green Jobs? Industries for Green Jobs• Building energy
efficiency• Wind power • Solar power • Biomass• Geothermal • Waste
management/recycling • Sustainable agriculture• Eco-tourism
Countries/No. of Green Jobs• Europe: 4,400,000 • Germany: 1,800,000 • Japan: 1,400,000 • United Kingdom: 800,000 • United States: 750,000• China: 734,200• Brazil: 500,000 • Denmark:70,660 • Spain: 21,000
Sources: “Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World,” United Nations Environment Programme; U.S. Conference of Mayors; government statistics; news reports
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Requires green industry-specific skills(four-year university degree or above)
• Environmental architects• Photovoltaic engineers • Geotechnical engineers • Agronomists • Water and waste treatment engineers• Marine biologists• Compliance managers• Power grid integration managers• Energy efficiency inspectors• Carbon auditors
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Requires green industry-specific skills(short-term competency based training)• Mixing and blending machine operators• Sustainable/organic farmers• Farm product purchasers• Recycling coordinators• Carbon traders• Eco tour guides• Park rangers
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Green Jobs Index – Asia Business Council
Source: http://www.asiabusinesscouncil.org/docs/GreenJobs.pdf
Concern for Green Jobs in other Asian countries
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Where Green Job Opportunities are available?
Korea Japan
Malaysia
Hong KongPhilippinesSingaporeTaiwanThailand
ChinaIndia
Saudi ArabiaVietnam Indonesia
Low Green Job Market Demand High
High Job Enablers Low
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Industries to Create Green Jobs• Wind – electricity production• Solar – electricity production• Biomass – electricity production• Geothermal – electricity production• Green buildings – energy efficiency • Energy – fuel efficiency of cars• Transportation – public transport• Waste management – electricity generation/compost• Sustainable agriculture – organic agriculture• Green finance – special finance for eco-friendly production• Eco-tourism – protected natural areas
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Prospects ChallengesEvolving climate science and public awareness/pressureGreen productivity, Clean development mechanism
Insufficient green R&D/Wrong kind of R&D (energy) High cost of alternative sources of energy.
Rising oil prices Insufficient green InvestmentConsumer incentives (local & international/information (eco-labeling)
Continued fossil fuel subsidies / multilateral financing
Government toolbox (incentives, mandates, tax & subsidy policies)
Limited technology transferGreening considered as an additional cost in production
Business innovation Lagging skills development
Situation Analysis
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Who should initiate action on Green Jobs skill development?
Government: policy instruments – command & control, taxes, incentives (production & consumption), investment promotion, R&D, competitions, exhibitionsLocal Governments: solid waste management, zoning & incentivesUniversities/Training Institutions: green industry specific courses (degree, diploma, short-term), modules, invest in R&DEducation Ministry: integrate modules in formal curriculaBusiness: recruitment & retention, eco-products branding Foreign Employment Bureau: value added jobs aborad
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How to Promote Generation of Green Jobs?OBJECTIVEGreen JobPromotion
AGREEMENTFocus Target:
Industry Sector
ACTIVITIES
TARGETS
TOOLS
PARTNERS
RESOURCE ALLOCATION
MONITORING & EVALUATION
SensitizeAdviceStimulateFinanceRegulate
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Presentation SummaryIntroduction to green jobs
Industries for creation of green jobs
Countries where green jobs are available
Skills required for green jobs
Situation analysis – prospects & challenges
Who should initiate action to develop skills required for green jobs
Wednesday, 26 January 2011 19
National Green Jobs conference – 24 Jan. 2011
N.G. KularatneDirector General, National Institute of Labour Studies
Skills for Green Jobs in Sri Lanka: Prospects and Challenges
Wednesday, 26 January 2011 20
National Green Jobs conference – 24 Jan. 2011Skills for Green Jobs in Sri Lanka :
Prospects and Challenges
N.G. KularatneDirector General, National Institute of Labour Studies